Device and method for corneal delivery of riboflavin by iontophoresis for the treatment of keratoconus

• Main Authors: CAVALLO GIOVANNI, LUCIANI GIULIO, STAGNI EDOARDO, FOSCHINI FULVIO, ROY PIERRE
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 19.06.2013
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; ELECTROTHERAPY; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MAGNETOTHERAPY; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; RADIATION THERAPY; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; ULTRASOUND THERAPY

An ocular iontophoresis device for delivering any ionized drug solution, such as riboflavin solution, to the cornea comprises, in combination: a reservoir (8) containing a riboflavin solution which is suitable to be merely positioned on the eye; an active electrode (2) disposed in or on the reservoir (8); and a passive electrode suitable to be placed on the skin of the subject, elsewhere on the body, preferably in close vicinity of the eye, such as forehead, cheeks or neck; means (10) for irradiating the cornea surface with suitable light, such as UV light, for obtaining corneal' cross- linking after the delivering of drug or of Riboflavin; wherein said reservoir (8) and said active electrode (2) are transparent to UV light and/or visible light and/or IR light. Method for delivering any ionized drug solution, such as riboflavin solution, to the cornea for treatment of keratoconus or any other ectasic corneal disease, or for reinforcing corneal stromal structure by means of an ocular iontophoresis device accor